Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Laupahoehoe, Hawaii
Once a Farming Town, Today Little Laupahoehoe is Home to a Tropical Research Forest and Jaw Dropping Water Views
Sitting along the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii, little Laupahoehoe (Lava Leaf) started out in the 1800s as a fishing and taro farming village. It later became a thriving sugar plantation town, and even when the sugar industry declined, Laupahoehoe found a way to survive. Today, tourism is its primary economic engine.
Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park is the area's highlight and boasts jaw-dropping views of incredibly blue water and waves breaking against craggy lava rocks (swimming is not advised). The Laupahoehoe Train Museum also receives rave reviews. One gas station and a convenience store with a diner are here, but other services and shopping are in Papaloa next door, Waimea (32 miles away) or Hilo (22 miles away). Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF), a lush USDA Forest Service project designed to "provide landscapes...to support research and education activities" is here, too, and it attracts college students, elementary school groups and sightseers.
Some neighborhoods have modest ranch ramblers with tiny front yards and others have larger properties with nicely landscaped lawns. There are no sidewalks. Homes are "off the grid," utilizing rain catchment systems and septic tanks.
Population: 1,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 50%
Cost of Living: 33% above the national average
Median Home Price: $595,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and winter temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. On average, the area receives 120 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Honokaa, 15 miles away, has a hospital that accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by the Joint Commission? No. The nearest accredited hospital is in Hilo, 20 miles away.
Public Transit: Yes, the Hele-On bus runs to Hilo and to towns to the north of Laupahoehoe.
Crime Rate: Well below the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 27%
Is Hawaii Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: The earthquake risk is 580% higher than the national average.
Notes: Laupahoehoe was the site of a 1946 tsunami disaster in which 21 schoolchildren and three teachers were killed. The foundation of the school where they perished is still visible. The town was moved to higher ground following the tragedy. Home prices have remained constant since a year ago. The population jumped in 2019 and then began to drop in 2020. It appears to be stablizing now.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, if looking for a misty, rural, self-sufficient retirement. The distance to an accredited hospital should be kept in mind.
Hawaii:
The Aloha State is an isolated volcanic archipelago 2,397 miles east of San Francisco. Although it was annexed by the United States in 1900, Hawaii did not become a state until August 21, 1959. It is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands, and it is the northernmost island group in Polynesia.
Hawaii's islands are known for their lush foliage, rugged geography, as well as their gold, red, black, and green sand beaches. Its Kilauea volcano is one of the world's most active. NASA astronauts trained for moon voyages by walking on Mauna Loa's hardened lava fields.
Of the six major islands, Oahu has the only major city - Honolulu. Climate and rainfall can vary depending on altitude and location. Thanks to trade winds, the north and east side receive higher amounts of moisture than the south and west. The islands experience some tropical storms, but the incidence of a true hurricane is rare. The rainiest city, Hilo, in the United States is in Hawaii.
Tourism and defense are a large part of the Hawaii's economy. The state is the only one in the union to grow coffee. It also produces most of the nation's pineapple and sugar cane. Nearly eight million tourists come to visit each year.
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